AirPods Max vs. Drop + THX Panda Wireless Headphones

We've compared the AirPods Max to several other competing sets of headphones from companies like Bose, Sennheiser, and Sony, but recently, the Drop + THX Panda Wireless Headphones have been getting some attention, so we thought we'd see how they measure up to Apple's over-ear headphones.


Priced at $400, the Drop + THX Panda Wireless headphones are the first headphones that offer THX AAA Amplification, for what Drop says is the "world's lowest possible levels of distortion." They're also equipped with "planer-ribbon drivers" for additional distortion resistance and more realistic sounding audio, and they're supposedly super comfortable with plush foam earpads wrapped in leather.

drop panda airpods max 1
These weren't on our radar until we started hearing from the YouTube community, so they're not as familiar as other, more popular brands, but they have some impressive features. That said, these are not better than the AirPods Max, which is not unexpected given the disparity in price points.

drop panda airpods max 2
When it comes to sound, MacRumors videographer Dan, who tested the headphones, said the Drop + THX Pandas are "dead even" with the ‌AirPods Max‌ in terms of sound quality, and perhaps even a little bit better.

drop panda airpods max 3
The ‌AirPods Max‌ are more comfortable than the Drop + THX Panda headphones, with the latter exerting more pressure on the temples and the cheeks while the ‌AirPods Max‌ are able to better distribute weight. The mesh ear cups of the ‌AirPods Max‌ are also more comfortable than leather ear cups, as leather along with the tight seal can get hot.

drop panda airpods max 4
Compared to the ‌AirPods Max‌, the Drop + THX Panda headphones are lacking Active Noise Cancellation, but there is enough of a seal around the head that it drowns out most outside noises.

drop panda airpods max 5
The Drop + THX Panda headphones come with a hardshell case that fits the headphones plus additional cables, and they come with a USB-C cable for charging and a 3.5mm audio cable if you want to use them in a wired capacity. Comparatively, the ‌AirPods Max‌ have the Smart Case, which is not particularly protective.

drop panda airpods max 6
When it comes to battery life, the Drop + THX Panda headphones can last for up to 30 hours, which is 10 hours more than the ‌AirPods Max‌. As for controls, the Drop x THX Pandas have a little joystick that can be used to skip tracks and control playback.

drop panda airpods max 7
All in all, the Drop + THX Panda headphones may be ideal for those who want good sound quality and don't mind the lack of Active Noise Cancellation, but the ‌AirPods Max‌ win out in comfort, ANC capabilities, Spatial Audio, head detection, and ease of use with Apple devices thanks to the H1 chip that allows for fast pairing and fast device switching.

Popular Stories

Apple Glass

Apple Smart Glasses: Everything We Know So Far

Wednesday May 21, 2025 8:21 am PDT by
Google recently made waves by showcasing a set of lightweight smart glasses featuring deep Gemini integration and an optional in-lens display. The demo has reignited interest in Apple's own smart glasses project, which has been the subject of rumors for nearly a decade. Here's a recap of where things stand. Current Development Status Apple is actively working on new chips specifically...
Apple Glasses Purple Feature

Apple Smart Glasses Launching in 2026

Thursday May 22, 2025 12:22 pm PDT by
Apple is planning to launch a set of smart glasses by the end of 2026, reports Bloomberg. The glasses will be comparable to the Meta Ray-Bans and the Android XR glasses that Google showed off earlier this week. Apple's smart glasses are expected to include cameras, microphones, and AI capabilities, much like the Meta Ray-Bans. The glasses will be able to take photos, record video, provide...
Apple CarPlay Ultra instrument cluster themes 01

Apple's CarPlay Ultra Is Here – Does Your iPhone Support It?

Thursday May 15, 2025 5:17 am PDT by
Apple's recently announced CarPlay Ultra promises a deeply integrated in-car experience, but not all iPhone users will be able to take advantage of the new feature. According to Apple's press release, CarPlay Ultra requires an iPhone 12 or later running iOS 18.5 or later. This means if you're using an iPhone 11, iPhone XR, or any older model, you'll need to upgrade your device to access...
maxresdefault

OpenAI Buys Jony Ive's AI Startup to 'Completely Reimagine What It Means to Use a Computer'

Wednesday May 21, 2025 10:27 am PDT by
OpenAI is acquiring io, the hardware-based AI startup co-created by Jony Ive, OpenAI announced today. Ive has been working with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on io for two years, and the duo expects to develop a family of AI devices. In a video shared by OpenAI, Altman and Ive outlined their partnership and what they expect to create as a result of the merger. "I have a growing sense that everything ...
WWDC 2025 Banner

Apple Announces WWDC 2025 Schedule, Including Keynote Time

Tuesday May 20, 2025 8:13 am PDT by
Apple today announced a more detailed schedule for its annual developers conference WWDC, which runs from June 9 through June 13. The schedule confirms that Apple's keynote will begin on Monday, June 9 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, with a live stream to be available on Apple.com, in the Apple TV app, and on YouTube. During the keynote, Apple is expected to announce iOS 19, iPadOS 19, macOS 16,...
macOS 16 visionOS Inspired Feature 1

macOS 16: Everything We Know So Far

Tuesday May 20, 2025 7:31 am PDT by
The Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple's annual developer and software-oriented event, is less than three weeks away. We haven't heard a great deal about macOS 16 ahead of its announcement this year, so we could be in for some major surprises when June 9 rolls around. Here's what we know so far about the next major update to Apple's Mac operating system. macOS 16 Name? Every year ...
iPod shuffle generations

Kuo: Jony Ive's Futuristic OpenAI Device Like a Neck-Worn iPod Shuffle

Thursday May 22, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
The big news in the technology world this week is that ChatGPT maker OpenAI is working more closely with Apple's former design chief Jony Ive on a futuristic AI device. The company is remaining tight lipped about the device, but Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has shared some alleged details about its design. In a social media post today, Kuo said the device will be "slightly larger" ...

Top Rated Comments

SBlue1 Avatar
57 months ago
Don't forget, there is one thing that not all but most Apple and Beats headphones have that no other headphone headphones company has and that is a deal breaker for me, and if more people would try it I would say for them as well. I am talking about iOS Headphone Accommodations.

As someone who has lost a big portion of high frequency hearing due to playing guitar I feel like having brand new ears when I listen to music with this feature on! Its like trying glasses on for the first time, everything is so clear now. I hear music the way I used to hear it when I was young! LOL!

I know I know I posted this a couple of times but if you own any EarPods or some of the newer Beats headphones and you are 30+ do yourself a favor and try something like the Mimi hearing test app. Once you complete the test you get an audiogram which is basically the set of frequencies that you can't hear clearly anymore and that you can use in the Headphone Accommodations settings to adjust sound to your personal hearing.

This is the single best feature of IOS 14. I just wish it would be included in MacOS and tvOS.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
clerkpalmer Avatar
57 months ago
The comments here show a lack of knowledge of the audiophile community. The Drop Panda is a planar headphone based on the very popular Oppo PM3 which was a favorite among audiophiles before they were discontinued. Drop formerly “mass drop” has been catering to audiophiles for years and is extremely well respected. The Panda is an excellent comparison for the APM and in fact there are dozens of discussions on this topic already. The Drop name carries plenty of weight among audiophiles.

I happen to own both headphones and think the comparison is very relevant. The Drop Panda sounds better to me overall but it is very close. The APM have more bass but the mids on the Panda are much better. The Panda sounds slightly warmer and balanced.

The Panda is 400 which already considered pricey for BT headphones and the point of this comparison is that for 400 you can get high end BT headphones that sound as good or better than the APM. If you don’t need ANC or the Apple centric features, the Panda is an excellent alternative and will save you some money. And the Drop Panda blows away the Bose and Sony ANC offerings when sound quality is concerned. The Drop Panda should be on anyone’s short list if they are considering the APM.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Piggie Avatar
57 months ago
Panda Bra..... Nice :)

Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jazz1 Avatar
57 months ago

Does the Panda’s also come with a bra case? ?
No, a bikini bottom. Buy both headphones and you've got full "coverage" :p
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jacktorrance Avatar
57 months ago
Lost me at ‘the Drop + THX Panda headphones are lacking Active Noise Cancellation’.

They’re not a comparable product.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iGüey Avatar
57 months ago
Does the Panda’s also come with a bra case? ?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)